Ratification of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement is one of the Illinois Corn Grower Association’s top legislative priorities for 2019.  Current expectation is for Congress to vote on the bill this summer, with estimates ranging from a vote in late May to late July, but hopes are always to see ratification before the August 2019 recess.

Mexico and Canada are the U.S. corn industry’s largest, most reliable market.  With half of Illinois corn leaving the state and export markets being such a tremendous opportunity for Illinois farmers, Mexico and Canada are even more important.

U.S. ag exports have tripled to Canada and quintupled to Mexico since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.  Mexico is now the top buyer of U.S. corn, purchasing 25 percent of corn exports.  In 2016 alone, more than 17.3 million metric tons of corn and corn co-products were exported to the two countries, valued at $3.2 billion.

Exports to Mexico and Canada produced $4.1 billion in economic activity and supported 25,000 jobs and 300,000 farms.Think the farm economy has challenges today?  Consider the farm economy without free trade agreements with your closest neighbors!  Let that nightmare fuel your call to your congressman today!